Nature Provides Fascinating Insight To Tooth Decay Prevention for Dentists in San Pedro CA
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, April 29, 2015 (Newswire.com) - Beavers’ teeth are made from exceptionally resilient material: they have to be because they are used to gnaw their way through the wood comprising the boles of stout trees! Researchers at Northwestern University figured that there had to be an interesting lesson to be learned from the humble beaver, because they don’t do anything special to protect their teeth. They don’t brush and floss them as we do, and they certainly don’t receive special fluoride treatments, which are key to building strong healthy teeth in humans.
What then is different about the beaver that enables them to perform such punishing tasks with their teeth and STILL preserve their integrity?
The Answer is Iron!
According to a study performed by the Northwestern University, beaver teeth have an inherently different chemical structure to ours and the most obvious difference is that their teeth contain iron-rich minerals. This is visible to us in the color of their dental enamel, which is a notable rusty, reddish color.
“The presence of iron in the chemical make-up of beaver teeth makes them incredibly resistant to wear-and-tear, physical trauma and decay,” explains Dr. Giri Palani, an experienced dentist in San Pedro. “And it’s because of this that their teeth are harder and stronger than even the healthiest set of human teeth.”
What does this discovery mean and can it serve the field of dental science in a more significant way than just idly intriguing a couple of scientists?
Apparently, yes!
According to the results of the study, these findings could mark the beginning of a much better understanding of the precise mechanisms of tooth decay, which in turn could help San Pedro dentists detect and treat oral disease earlier. The composition of beaver teeth could also help us to improve upon our current methods of dental reinforcement, especially where fluoride treatments are concerned.
Beaver Teeth Upon Closer Inspection
Under the microscope, our teeth are incredibly complex structures, which is what makes a succinct study of dental enamel so challenging. The building blocks of dental enamel consist of ordered layers of hydroxylapatite (a type of mineral) “nanowires.” Surrounding these nanowires are deposits of minerals that are rich in magnesium and iron and it’s these minerals that influence the resistance of the enamel to mechanical wear-and-tear, decay and acid erosion. In fact, the study by the Northwestern University is the first of its kind to demonstrate this structure.
“According to the results of the study, it’s these small deposits of iron and magnesium-rich minerals that protect the enamel against decay,” says dentist in San Pedro, Dr. Palani. “In humans, magnesium plays the dominant role, but in rodents such as beavers, it’s iron. While beavers would seem to have remarkably different teeth to ours, they are essentially structurally the same. What does differ is their chemical composition and with enough study, we stand to learn from their biology and how it is we could improve upon our current methods of tooth decay prevention.”
The Take-Home Message
Tooth decay is the second most common disease affecting the United States, with the common cold or influenza being first. With such a prevalence of this disease and the terrible impact it has upon nutrition, quality of life, social confidence and self-esteem, it’s important that we constantly seek ways to improve upon our methods of prevention. Thanks to this recent study, our efforts could one day go beyond brushing and flossing our teeth daily to include some kind of mineral treatment that increases the strength and resilience of our teeth to match that of our rodent cousins!
About Dr. Giri Palani
Dr. Giri Palani is a cosmetic, implant and general dentist who has been serving San Pedro CA and surrounding communities for many years. He is a graduate of the Marquette University Dental School and completed his general practice residency at the Cedar Sinai Hospital in New York. Dr. Palani is certified and qualified in the provision of sedation, dental implants, Invisalign and a plethora of other unique dental services, which he provides from his practice, Center for Dental Implants. He has earned a Fellowship award from both the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and the Academy of General Dentistry.
Contact Dr. Giri Palani
To contact Dr. Palani and The Center for Dental Implants in San Pedro, you can give them a call at 888.684.6771. Alternatively, you can leave your contact details with their staff on their website: http://www.teeth4losangeles.com/contact-us.html
Physical Address:
Center for Dental Implants
28358 S. Western Ave
Rancho Palos Verdes,
CA 90275